Hospitalization bed



Nov. 1l, 1941. c. DREXLER A E1-AL 2,261,980

HosPlTALIz'ATIoN BED Filed July 9, 1957 4 sheets-smet 1 Nov. 11,A 1941. C, DREXLER ETAL' 1 2,261,980

HosPITALIzATIoN BED Filed July 9, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTORS.

(7m/nfs DKEXLEA. i? PH H. Mae

BY emmz ATTORNEYS.

Nov. .11, 1941. c. DRExLE ET AL HOSPITALIZATION BED F-iled Julyr 9, 193,7. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HOSPITALIZATION BED Patented Nov. 11, 1941 HOSPITALIZATIONA BED Charles Drexler and Ralph H. Morgan, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to Robert R. Freund,

Evansville, Ind.

Application July 9, 1937, Serial No. 152,718

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a posture and hospital bed.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a bed of articulated character, whereby the same may have its several parts moved into various positions necessitated by the patients particular condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mutually coacting combination bed pan and mattress plug arrangement, whereby either may be associated with an aperture in the bed spring and mattress for the specific purpose desired.

Another object of the inventionis to improve the invention basicly disclosed in the application of Robert R. Freund, filed December'll, 1936, and bearing Serial No. 115,272, and entitled, Posture bed structure abandoned and now substituted by an application Serial No. 264,766 led March 29, 1939.

The chief feature of the invention consists in embodying in a bed structure of articulated character, the several mechanisms, whereby the bed sections and portions associated therewith may be adjusted, maintained, operated and/or utilized, as necessity or convenience may require.

Reference is had to the before mentioned copending application for a specic description of the advantages of a bed structure embodying the basic characteristics of the present and copending application invention disclosures.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a bed structure of the central supported or pedestal type, embodying the invention, parts being broken away to illustrate the other parts in detail,said figure illustrating the respective mechanisms for moving the respective sections of the articulated bed and sustaining the same in moved position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of, more especially, the power mechanism, other parts, however, being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bed pan and mattress plug embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 4-0 of Fig. 3 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the bed structure CIJ Cil

embodying the invention, the plug portion being omitted for clearness.

In Figs. 1 and 6 there is illustrated a pair of side frame members |03 havingreenforcing webs |03a, if desired, and each lower corner of the frame member terminates in a socket |04 to receive the upper end |05 of an ofset or angular leg |06, terminating in a caster socket |01 mounting a caster |08. It will be noted from a oomparison of Figs. 1 and 3 that the two frame members are slightly dissimilar in their central portions and the same are connected together by the cross member H0. The two frame members are connected at their upper portion as indicated at ||0a, and llb, connection Illia having solely a connecting function, while H013` has an additional function hereinafter to be pointed out.

Portion 00 of each side frame pivotally supports at I0 an arm or frame extension |02 and the free ends thereof are united as at Member is'of channel shape in cross section and substantially U-shaped, and the ends thereof are secured to the members |02, as indicated at ||a in Fig. 3.

One of the members |02 includes a depending lever arm extension l2 which terminates in a cable anchorage I3 to which is connectedone end of the cable I4, the same passing over a pulley |5 rotatably supported on the axle I6 carried by the yoke the stem I3 of which is suitably secured in a socket I9 formed in the frame member |03 shown in Fig. 1. The other end of the cable ld-see Fig. 2-is secured to a winding drum 20, the support and rotational power therefor being hereinafter set forth more `in detail.

Each member |0| is pivotally supported at 2| on portions |00 of the side frame member |03 and the members |0| each support a channel member 22 at one end, the other "end of the member 22 being secured to a hinge member 23a. providedwith a hinge pin 24 that supports the complementary hinge member 23h. The hinge members 23a, are maintained in spaced relation through the connectionof members |0| to the portions |00 maintained in spaced relation as aforesaid. 'I'he hinge members 23h are plrovided with depending ears 25, and a connecting rod 26 maintains the same in spaced relation. A U-shaped channel member 2 is suitably associated lwith the members 23h and constitutes the end extension of the bed frame.

There is thus provided a bed frame structure which is articulated at l0, 2| and 24, portions |00 representing the fixed or horizontal portion, portion representing the head or back portion adapted for upward tilting through the instrumentality of the cable I4, section 20 represented by numerals 22 and 23a, adapted for articulation about the axis of members 2| as a pivot, and the section represented by numerals 23h and 21 pivoted on an axis embodying the members 24, which latter axis is movable as determinable by the tilting of the intermediate articulated section. The last mentioned or end section 23b-21 constitutes the foot section.

Pivotally supported on the transverse connecting member ||0b adjacent each member |03 is respectively, of the gears 41 and 53.

an arm 28 .and each arm at its free end supports a pivot 29, in turn supporting a roller 30 which constitutes a rolling support for the parallel portions 21 of the bed frame. In a similar manner there is pivotally supported at 3| on each of the side frame members |03, an arm 32 supporting a pivot 33 upon which is pivotally mounted the roller 34 for member 22.

The lower web of each of the flanged sections, for example Il, |00, 22 and 21, and the like, is suitably apertured-see Fig. 2-as at 35 and a coil spring 36 has one end 36a mounted therein and its opposite end 36h is mounted in the aperture 31 of a flat spring or strap 38, it being understood that, except for that portion of the bed which corresponds to the portion of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the straps 38 extend from one side of the bed frame to the opposite side and these flat strap springs support the mattress to which reference will be had more fully hereinafter.

There is secured to the frame member |03 a housing structure 39 which provides aligned bearings 40a, 40h and 40e in which is mounted a shaft 4 I. The lower end of the shaft mounts in the chamber 42 a worm Wheel 43 meshing with a Worm 44 carried by the motor shaft 45 in the chamber 42. 'Ihe motor shaft 45 is operable by the motor mechanism embodied in the electric motor which is of the reversible type and which is provided with suitable controls for initiating motor operation in either direction of rotation, such control mechanism being of the normally open type switch in that it requires manual maintenance of the switch in closed position to secure motor energization and release from said manual operation immediately causes cessation of rotational movement, the switch being of dual character such as necessary to secure reverse rotation.

As herein illustrated, the power is derived in the present disclosure, as thus far described, from the reversible motor structure. As shown in Fig. 2, the motor 46 is suitably mounted on the frame structure, which it will be apparent is of the central or pedestal type in that the head and foot frame portions of the bed frame project beyond the support. The central support is of divided or spaced character, being connected, as stated, as at H0, ll0a, and llb, and otherwise connected near the top in conjunction with portions |00 as may be desired or required.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 4| is a gear 41, and if desired, an anti-friction construction 41a* may be interposed therebetween. The gear 41 bears at its lower end on a thrust bearing arrangement 48 in turn bearing on the shaft bearing 40e. 'Ihe gear 41 has a toothed clutchface 49 and nests an anti-friction construction 50 which supports a sleeve keyed to the shaft 4|.

Bearing on the upper end of sleeve 5| is an anti-friction structure 52 against which bears another gear 53of toothed character similar to gear 41 and similarly mounted as at 53a on said shaft 4| but in reversed relation is clutch face 54 so that in this instance the clutch face 54 is positioned adjacent but spaced from the clutch face 49. Thus, the two gears are maintained in spaced relation and are prevented from axial movement by the inclusion of .a thrust bearing structure 55 between the gear 53 and the bearing 40h.

A clutch member 56` has the opposite clutch faces with teeth 56a and 56h either of which is adapted for engagement with the teeth 49 or 54, The clutch member 56 is of a length sufficient to, as stated, engage either of the gears, or, as illustrated, to be positioned intermediate the same and be free from gear tooth face engagement. The clutch member'56 has a spline or equivalent connection with the sleeve5l, so as to be capable of longitudinal movement relative thereto but incapable of relative rotational movement, so that said clutch member rotates with the shaft 4| and in the direction of shaft rotation. Each gear 41 or 53, therefore, may be disconnected from the source of power or may be connected thereto and rotated in either direction, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

Positioned above the bearing 40h is a thrust bearing structure 51 .and another gear 58 is rotatably supported on the shaft as at 59 and is provided with a clutch face having teeth 60. The anti-friction structure 6| nested therein serves as a spacer for the sleeve 62 rigidly secured to the shaft 4| and the thrust bearing 63 maintains the gear 64 in predetermined position, the latter being rotatably supported as at 65 on the shaft 4l. The gears 58 and 64 have the adjacent clutch faces with teeth 58a. and 64a, respectively, and the clutch member 66 has the clutch faces with teeth 66a and 66h at opposite ends for selective engagement with the clutch faces before mentioned. The clutch member 66 has a splined or equivalent connection with the bushing or sleeve 62 similar to that previously described with reference to the clutch member 56 with its supporting and driving sleeve 5|. Fig. l illustrates the neutral position of the clutch member 66.

To prevent endwise play and maintain predetermined clearances and positionings, there is interposed between the gear 64 and the bearing 40a the thrust bearing structure 61. Pinned to the upper free end of the shaft 4| as at 68a is a power cam 68 having the cam groove 6817 therein and a follower 69 rides in said groove and is carried by the rocker arm 10 pivoted at 1| 'Ihe rocker arm is apertured as at 1|a for the purpose hereinafter set forth and adjacent said aperture is pivotally connected as at 1lb, to the connecting rod 12 in turn connected to a piston 13 slidably mounted in the pump cylinder 14 which is provided with an intake port 15, the latter being connected by the conduit 16 to the chamber 42 and terminating at 16a in the lowermost portion thereof. The discharge port and its connection to the discharge line 11 is not illustrated herein.

The discharge line 11 terminates at 11a. adjacent the bearing 40a and thus in the rotation of shaft 4| the rocker arm is continuously actuated and the lubrication pump similarly actuated to supply lubricant to the power mechanism pre- Zilously described, and mounted upon the shaft The means for selectively controlling the several clutch constructions may be set forth briefly as follows: A shaft 89 is rotatably supported in a bearing 89a formed as a part of thepump housing. Pinned thereto at 89b and bearing on the end of the bearing 89a is a grooved cam 8| having the cam groove 8|a therein. A clutch shifter lever 82 is pivotally supportedat 83 and is yieldingly locked by a plunger 84 and spring 84a to an arm 85 pivotally supporting the roller 82a which is positioned in the groove Bla. The lever 82 is bifurcated and each arm pivotally supports at 86 a roller 86a which rides in the groove 81 of the clutch member 56, splined as at 5|a to the sleeve pinned to the shaft 4| as at 5|b.

It will be obvious from the shape of the cam 8| that the clutch shifter lever structure may be moved so as to position the clutch in neutral position or in either selective gear driving position.

In a similar manner, there is suitably secured to the shaft 89, a grooved cam 88 with which is associated a similar type lever structure 89 pivoted at 89a and operatively associated with the groove 99 in the clutch member 66.

As appears in Fig. 1, cams 8| and 88 are mounted on shaft 89 in angular offset relation as well as axial offset relation. These cams are identical. When handwheel 93h (see line 3'1, below) is turned angularly, the proper amount, clutch members 56 and 66 may be raised or lowered or positioned therebetween or in neutral position.

The shaft 89 has pinned thereto a collar 9| which maintains the shaft against axial displacement. The free end of the shaft 89 supports a transverse pin 92 which is adapted to be interlocked with a toothed socket structure 93 having the teeth 93a thereon and having a handle portion 93D, and a pointer or indicator portion 93e. The portion 93 is rotatably supported in the opening 94 formed in the cover portion 95 of housing 39 which is the housing for all of the aforesaid power mechanism. 95a indicates a scale or like legending so that by manual manipulation of the member 93h all the gears may be free from rotation or any one of the gears may be rotated and, of course, the direction of rotation depends upon the direction of rotation of the motor before mentioned.

In place of motor operation, there may be associated with the upper end of the shaft 4|, a cap type socket 96 having a cooperative engagement with the upper end of the shaft 4| and provided with a handle 91 terminating in a knob 98. The member 96 is rotatably supported in the aperture 95a formed in the cover 95. When the motor is not employed, it will, of course, be evident that shaft 4| may be manually rotated, through the handle structure described, in either direction and the proper power operation obtained therefrom, depending upon the setting of the manual member 93.

Reference will now be had more especially to Fig. 2 and also to a limited extent to Fig. 1. Rotatably supported in the bearing |69 is a shaft |6| which is connected by a universal coupling |28 to a shaft |22 for rotating said shaft in either direction and for operating the bed pan and plug supporting mechanism, as hereinafter set forth and for the purpose similarly set forth. The shaft |8| has secured to it, in the chamber formed by the housing 39, the gear |62 which is in continuous mesh with the gear 41. In a bearing |63 thereabove is rotatably mounted a shaft |64 to which is secured for bed part movement the drum 29 as at |65 and within the chamber formed by housing 39 there is secured to shaft |84, the gear l |66 which is in continuousl me'shf with the gear 53.

In a bearingv |51 thereabove, see Fig. 2, is rotatably supported a shaft |68 which has rigidly secured to it in the chamber formed by the housing 39, a gear |89 and in continuous'mesh with the gear 58; The other end of the shaft |68 has rigidly secured to it a lever arm |19 for bed part movement to which reference will be had hereinafter and more especially foot section 21 through arm |83, rockshaft ||9b, lever 28 and roller 39 riding thereunder.

In a bearing |1|a thereabove is rotatably supported a shaft which has rigidly secured to vShaft I7 l it in the chamber formed by housing 39 a gear |12 which is in continuous mesh with the gear 64. The other end of the shaft |1| has pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to it, an offset lever |13 for bed part movement to which reference will be had hereinafter and more especially knee section 22 through lever 32 and roller 33 riding thereunder.

Lever |2 connected at one end to the cable |4-v see Fig. l-as before set forth, is rigid with one of the bed frame portions to-wit fixed portion |92, pivoted at I9. Each frame member |93`supports a cam forming structure |14, see Figs. 1 and 3, having the straight portion |15, see Fig. 1, and the arcuate portion |16,"see Fig. l. These cam structures are directed inwardly towards each other. Also rigid with each side of the head portion |||92 of the bed structureA and depending therefrom adjacent eachvcam structure, is an arm |11, see Fig. 1 pivotally supporting a roller |18 that rides on said cam portions |15- |16, of cam member |14 so that during a certain portion of the movement of the'drum" l5 the tiltingr of the head portion ||92 of the bed frame structure is more rapidly effected than at another portion of the movement of the drum, or no tilting is effected for drum movement. This is because the shape or cam surface |`15|16 varies. It will be recalled that lever 32 is operatively associated with the intermediate articulated bed section and is pivoted at 3| in the boss |89 which is an extension of or is an attachment to the powersupporting frame member |93. The opposite end of the lever 32 is connected to a link |19 and the other end of link |19 is connected to the arm |13 secured, as before stated, to the The shaft |1| is rotatably supported in the sleeve |19-|82 mounted in the bearing Illa and said bearing is suitably supported as at |82-see Fig. 2-to insure rigidity and alignment of the parts, said bearing |82 being rigid with a power supporting frame member |93 to which housing 39 is secured.

The lever 28 associated'with'the foot section of the articulated bed is rigid with the lever arm |83 pivoted as at |84 to a link |85, the other end thereof being pivoted as at |86 to the lever arm |19, before mentioned. Itwill be noted that levers |13 and 32 by -the link connection |19 constitute a parallel arrangement and that levers The two side members of the frame are designated by the lnumeral |03, and the upper portions thereof are designated by numeral |00, the nusocket |01 mounting thecaster |08.

The two frame members |03 include between the two leg sockets |04 the depending portions |09 united by the cross member ||0. This forms the pedestal, as it were, of the bed structure. The frame structure generally indicated by the numerals |00, and |02, support a spring structure which in turn supports the mattress having the opening ||2 therein. A mattress plug ||3 is adapted to fill this opening and complete the mattress in normal relationship.

When a bed pan is required and the patient cannot be moved or it is preferable not to move the patient, the plug is removed from the opening |2 and a bed pan is positioned therebeneath.

The instant vportion of the invention is directed to the bed pan support and the plug support and the meansfor securing conjoint movementthereof for positioning one or the other in registration with the opening |2 in the mattress for the respective purpose desired.

The bed pan is indicated by the numeral |4- and includes an inwardly directed lip ||4a which drains inwardly to the pan. It is supported by a base I5 apertured at |5a to reduce the weight thereof. Al pair of ears at opposite sides of the support or base is provided and in Figs. 3 and 4 numeral ||6 indicates the same. Depending therefrom and in slightly offset relation, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, is another ear ||1. A link 8 is pivoted at one end to the ear 6 by means of the pin I|9 and its opposite end is pivoted as at to one arm of a lever member |2|, in turn rigid with the shaft |22.

Shaft |22 is rotatably supported in the bearing |23 which is formed near the: lower end of`tht depending arm |24, secured as at |25 to a depending frame member |26 suitably secured as at |21 to the frame member |00. Member |26 is a casting which includes two depending portions, as shown in Fig. 4, and two transverse connecting portions |2611 and |26b, as shown in Fig. 3, the same forming a rectangular tubular guide or shield for plug reception and pan protection. The shaft |22 on the outer end may have a suitable connection thereon, as indicated by the numeral |28, for manual or power rotation of the shaft, as before set forth.

Depending from the depending arm with respect to the bearing |23, is the ear |29 carrying a stud |30 to which is secured one end of the spring |3|. 'I'he opposite end of the spring |3| is secured by means on the stud |32 to the ear ||1. The pan support includes the projecting portion |33 mounting stud |34 to which one end of spring |35 is secured, the other end of the spring |35 being secured to stud |36 mounted free from. the ways, the pan support moves toward the.v left and downwardly into the dotted line position as shown in the lower left hand portion of Fig. 3. This positions the pan in relatively exposed relation so that is is not only readily accessible for removal but may be lifted from the pan support for cleaning purposes.

Reference will now be had to the plugvstructurev and its support. Plug I3 is rigidly but suitably secured to a base |4| and the latter at each side is provided with an ear |42 mounting a stud |43 which pivotally supports one end of a lever |44, the other end being pivotally connected as at |45 to the opposite end of the lever arm |2|. It is noted the lever |2| has its two arms slightly biased relative to each other.

Suitably secured to the base portion |4| is a central stem member |46 which is relatively elongated and includes therein an elongated slot |41 and the shaft |22 is mounted in said slot. The stud |43 supports one end of the spring |48, the opposite end being supported by the shaft |22 as at |49. In order to prevent lateral movement of the stem |46 with reference to the shaft |22, adjustable collars may be mounted thereon to retain the stem member 46 in predetermined position yon said shaft and yet permit the stem member to move radially relative to the shaft.

In the counterclockwise movement, previously mentioned, as lever arm |2| moves counterclockwise, the stem simultaneously moves therewith and in the continued movement, the stern is elevated by reason of the mutual constraint imposed on the respective parts so that near the end of the movement, the plug is substantially in registration with the opening |2 and nal movement positions the plug ||3 in the aperture ||2 and completes the mattress structure.

To prevent excessive movement, the links ||8 are provided with lateral extensions ||8a which comprise stops for engaging portions of the levers |2| immediately adjacent thereto, as shown in the lower central portion of Fig. 3 by the dotted lines. Similarly, the links |44 are provided with lateral extensions |44a which comprise stops for engaging portions of the levers |2| immediately adjacent thereto, as shown by the full lines in the lower central portion of Fig. 3.

It will thus be apparent that as the shaft |22 is rotated counterclockwise, the pan is removed and the plug is associated with the opening ||2 in the mattress and on clockwise rotation of shaft |22, the plug is removed and the pan is positioned in registration with thev opening ||2, as shown in the full lines in Fig. 3. If desired, the stud |43 may mount a guide which also may be operatively associated with the ways |38, although the stem |46 and its association with the shaft, normally provides suficient guidance.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the attached drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character. Various modifications have been hereinbefore pointed out and these together with others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, are all considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. In an invalid bed including a frame structure, a mattress supporting spring structure having an aperture therein and supported by the frame structure, a mattress structure on the spring structure and having an aperture therethrough registering with the rst aperture, and a plug for the mattress aperture, the combination of a bed pan support, a plug support, an aperture dening frame operatively connected to the frame structure and registering with the registering apertures and therebeneath, support moving vmeans reversely operable to alternately remove either support from aperture registration and vice versa, the plug being receivable by the mattress structure aperture and the bed pan support being nestable within the, aperture of the second mentioned frame when said supports are at the highest elevation, the supports being operatively connected together and simultaneously movable by the moving means, and guide means depending from a pair of opposite sides of the second mentioned frame, and means carried by each support and operatively engaging said guide means near the end of the elevating movement of the respective support for support guidance and aperture registration.

2. A dual support structure including in combination a frame, a pivotally mounted dual arm lever thereon, a stem having an elongated slot in one end thereof, a member slidable in said slot, a device support carried by the other end of the stem, a link between one lever arm and the device support, yielding means between the device support and the member normally constraining said member towards the device support end of the slot, another device support, a link between the latter device support and the other arm of said lever, and parallel, elongated, substantially equal length yielding means, each stationarily mounted at one end and upon theframe and connected at the opposite end to the second mentioned device support, each of said yielding means being offset linearly to each other and with the lever axis lying therebetween for holding the second mentioned device support horizontal.

3. A device as dened by claim 2, characterized by-the addition of a stop between each link and the lever arm to which it is connected for limiting rotative movement of the respective link upon the lever arm in one direction and about the pivotal connection therebetween.

fl. A device as defined by claim 2, characterized by the addition of relatively stationary ways on said frame, and a guide member carried by each of the device supports for selective registration with the ways at one portion of each support movement toward the Ways and guide movement therein in another portion of the movement of the last mentioned guide and support.

5. A device as dened by claim 2, characterized by the addition of ya stop between each link and the lever arm to which it is connected for limiting rotative movement of the respective link upon the lever arm in one direction and about the pivotal connection therebetween, relatively stationary ways on said frame, and a guide member carried by each of the device supports for relative registration with the ways at one portion of each support movement toward the ways and guide movement therein in another portion of the move.. ment of the last mentioned guide and support.

CHARLES DREXLER. RALPH H. MORGAN. 

